MSL Degree: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Master of Studies in Environmental. Natural Resources, and Energy Law (MSL) graduate degree is for those who have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in learning about environmental law, but who do not wish to practice law or obtain a law degree.

Potential students include federal agency employees, teachers, elected officials, journalists, and people pursuing careers in lobbying or nonprofit organizations, as well as business people who want a better understanding of environmental regulations.

We also welcome applications from those who may not be sure on their career path, but know that they have a passion for the environment and an interest in learning about legal systems. Our MSL program is available both at our campus in Portland, Oregon, and via distance learning which can be completed at your own pace with asynchronous courses.

The MSL program requires students to complete 26 semester hours of credit (for both domestic and international students). It is recommended that students attending full-time plan to take 18 months to complete the program or three semesters (fall, spring, fall or fall, spring, summer), but those going part-time may take up to three years to finish all requirements.

Yes. Online MSLs are welcome to take in-person classes at any time on our Portland campus, including during the summer; please note that a higher tuition rate will apply to any semester you take in-person courses. In-person students are also welcome to take online classes.

No, credits earned in the MSL program do not count towards a JD.

Yes, students are allowed to take up to 8 credits outside the environmental law program.

MSL students are graded in their classes on a credit/no credit/honors basis. There are no “letter grades.”

Students have until the 2nd Thursday of each semester to add and drop classes. If you drop classes during that period, your tuition will be refunded at 100% for the dropped credits (as long as you are not dropping all credits). If you drop classes after that date, you will receive no refund for schedule adjustments.

Our MSL graduates have a track record of going on to very successful careers! We have an incredible Career Services Office that is available to on-campus and online students.

Our Environmental Law MSL alums go on to work in a wide variety of jobs, including nonprofits, journalism, international law, academia and teaching, and the government. On this page you can view six different fields of environmental work with lists of alums, and what degree they received, under each field.

Please see our application deadlines for on-campus and online programs (including deadlines for international students) here.

In addition to a completed application form, applicants are asked to supply:

• A statement of interest (about 200 words);
• A writing sample (5-7 pages);
• A resume or CV;
• Undergraduate transcripts (unofficial is fine for the application but official are needed before the start of classes); and
• 2-3 letters of recommendation.
• Demonstration of English proficiency for international applicants whose native language is not English. This requirement can be met in one of the following ways:
  1. if English was the primary language of their university education and the official language of the country in which the university is located;
  2. if English was the primary language of their university education and if their university is accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency;
  3. a minimum IELTS score of 8; or
     1. a minimum internet-based TOEFL score of 100.

 

The Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once a complete application is received, you will typically be notified of a decision within three weeks. We always encourage applying early to give plenty of time to process financial aid and select courses before the start of term.

To be considered a full-time student, you must register for a minimum of 5 credits each semester (fall and spring). You may register for fewer credits each term if you do not need full-time status as a student for any reason. MSL students must be enrolled in at least 3 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 2 credits in the summer to receive Federal Financial Aid.

The number of credits you will take each semester is entirely up to you. You can take as little as 1 or 2 credits or up to 10-12. Since MSL students pay per credit, they are able to choose how many credits to take each semester, depending on their budgets and how long they plan to take to complete the program.

The classes you would be taking in our MSL program range from 1-3 credits. It is the school’s recommendation that students plan to spend about 4 hours of work (attending lectures, doing readings, quizzes, etc) per credit each week. On average, MSL students take an equivalent of 6 credits in classes per term, which equates to about 24 hours of work each week.

The on-campus MSL tuition rate for the 2025-2026 academic year is $2,268 per credit, and the online MSL tuition rate is $1,696 per credit. Please also note that tuition increases annually in the summer.

 

Please visit our Law School Tuition and Fees webpage for the most current information about tuition, fees and living expenses. All tuition and fees are subject to change on an annual basis. Federal financial aid (in the form of loans) is available to qualified U.S. students.

Yes, we offer tuition awards in the form of an Environmental Ambassador Award (International Students) and an Environmental Leadership Award (Domestic Students). After completing your application, you can email us and ask for the Request for Tuition Award Form. Once we receive your completed form, we will send it to our Scholarship Committee for review.

Yes, demonstration of English proficiency for international applicants whose native language is not English is required. This requirement can be met in one of the following ways:

1. if English was the primary language of their university education and the official language of the country in which the university is located;
2. if English was the primary language of their university education and if their university is accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency;
3. a minimum IELTS score of 8; or
4. a minimum TOEFL score of 100.

For the purpose of admissions, anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or requires a student visa is considered an international student and should apply by the international student deadline.

The MSL program only accepts international students for a fall start. The application deadline is April 1st for an August start.

If it is past April 1st, you are welcome to start in the online program and then switch to in-person at a later date.

We offer an MSL degree in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law at Lewis & Clark and it is limited to students who want to concentrate their studies in those areas. We also offer the world’s first Animal Law MSL. Information about that program can be found here.

MSL students can study many areas of the law that intersect with environmental, natural resources, and energy law, such as courses in trade and environment, international environmental law, renewable energy and climate change, and environmental business law. However, if you are not particularly interested in environmental, natural resources, or energy law, Lewis & Clark is not the best MSL program for you.

Highly qualified MSL applicants may receive tuition scholarships (up to a maximum of 50% of tuition costs, depending on financial need). You will need to provide a letter explaining your needs. Obtaining a scholarship award from Lewis & Clark may help you obtain additional grants from other sources. Please note that we do not offer scholarships for anything beyond tuition such as housing, travel, or books. For more ideas about funding sources, visit the International Education Financial Aid website.

U.S. visa regulations severely restrict the type of paid work available to international students and their families. It may be possible to qualify for some limited kinds of on-campus employment during your studies. However, these positions are rare and you should not rely on working on-campus to support your studies. For more information about these restrictions, and about legal employment opportunities, consult our International Students and Scholars Office.

Information on visas and forms for international students can be found here:

Lewis & Clark also maintains an International Students and Scholars Office to provide assistance and advice to our international students. This office provides a wide variety of services, including assisting students in obtaining visas to study in the U.S. It is important for you to stay in touch with this office throughout the application and arrival process so that we can make your transition into the United States as easy as possible.

This depends on your financial circumstances. U.S. Homeland Security requires a Certificate of Financial Responsibility for all students entering the United States. In addition, you must complete the Supplement for International Students and provide information about your family. The financial requirements are considerably higher for families than for individual students. American daycare for children can be costly and it can be expensive to purchase a car and the mandatory vehicle liability insurance. It is also difficult to even buy a car from a dealership without holding at least an International Driving Permit issued by your home country, in addition to your driver license. Many of our international students have successfully obtained Oregon driver’s licenses after studying the Oregon driver manual and taking both a computer-based test and a driving test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Holding an Oregon driver’s license can save you a significant amount of money in car insurance premiums.

If you are planning to bring your family, please give full details early in the process to the International Students and Scholars Office so that they can help you plan ahead.

It is important to recognize that legal education in the United States differs in very significant ways from legal education in most other countries. First, U.S. law schools teach at the graduate level rather than the undergraduate level. Second, the common-law system of education relies on the Socratic method of instruction, where professors expect students to be actively engaged in their education, to be able to respond to questions in class, and to understand how the courts shape the law as an equal partner with the U.S. legislature and administration. Third, at Lewis & Clark, the level of instruction is even more demanding; our international students are often surprised by how many small discussion seminars we offer and by the close interactions between students and professors. The kind of active, creative legal thinking that typifies American law schools and the common law system can be daunting for those trained in civil code systems, and the final exams in American law courses often demand not only knowledge of the law but an ability to construct legal arguments on behalf of various parties and to think critically about the law.

With these differences in mind, our two-credit Introduction to U.S. Environmental Law and Legal Studies provides international students with a concentrated introduction to the United States legal structure and law study. The seminar begins in August, before the fall semester begins.

Most of our law students live off-campus in apartments or shared housing. Some students enjoy sharing multi-bedroom apartments or houses with other students; others prefer to have a small apartment to themselves. There are many good options for rented living space in the neighborhoods around campus that are accessible by walking, biking, or public transit.

Our Admissions Office maintains a listing of available rental spaces. The Orientation Office, which opens in June, can be a helpful resource for helping you find housing that works for you. We can also help you with the rental search and leasing process. There may be limited dormitories available on the undergraduate campus for law school students. If you are interested in dormitory housing, please reach out to us as soon as possible to set that up.